A BENEFIT cheat who claimed £26,871 in benefits while working as a self-employed car dealer in Warrington has been caught and prosecuted.
Curtis Brumont, aged 33, of Larkspur Grove, Warrington failed to declare his job while claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit and incapacity benefit from November 2009-December 2012.
Brumont was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court to a community order for 18 months and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and repay the money.
Brumont has overpaid Housing Benefit of £6,947, Council Tax Benefit of £2,248 and Incapacity Benefit of £17,676, a total of £26,871.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits and exchequer services manager, said: “Every day in the UK over 200 benefit thieves are caught – the clear message is – if you commit benefit fraud you will be caught.”
Anyone who suspects someone is fraudulently claiming benefits to which they are not entitled is asked to call the council’s confidential benefit fraud hotline on 442282 / 442283 or email [email protected]
